Korea-Khitan War (고려거란전쟁)

(This drama is based on historical events,)

(but some details may be different from historical facts.)

(Production guidelines were strictly followed when filming with animals.)

Are you Goryeo's envoy?

Yes, I am. Where are you headed?

We are on our way to Goryeo now.

Goryeo? What is the reason for your visit?

That is none of your business.

Now, swiftly continue on your way.

His Majesty is...

waiting for you with bated breath.

Let us go.

- Get moving. - Go!

Canter.

Is it okay to be granted an audience with His Majesty right away?

There are customary ceremonies that must be conducted upon an envoy's arrival.

Just follow me.

We have been ordered by His Majesty to skip such formalities.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere birthday greetings.

His Majesty sent many gifts for you,

wishing you good health and a long life.

He will soon visit you to pay homage in person,

which is what Your Majesty has been waiting for.

He is getting ready to leave Gaegyeong at the moment.

He will cross the Yalu River in two weeks at the most.

Are you telling me this...

in an attempt to buy time once again?

So that...

we would miss our opportunity to attack Goryeo?

Your Majesty, I assure you that I am telling you the truth.

I swear on my life that it is true.

Please wait just a month,

and you will see Goryeo's ruler...

approaching Shangjing.

- Be quiet! - Your Majesty.

Our envoy is on his way to Goryeo at the moment.

He will declare war on Goryeo on my behalf.

Your Majesty.

Goryeo will keep the promise to pay homage to Khitan.

His Majesty will leave Gaegyeong shortly.

Declaring war on a nation promising friendly ties...

by paying homage to Your Majesty is simply unacceptable.

King of the Lanling Commandery!

Yes, Your Majesty.

You are to drag him out at once and behead him.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Stop this!

What justification do you have for killing me?

It is for the sin of the Goryeo envoys who have continuously deceived...

our emperor until now.

We have never done that.

Our Majesty...

will pay homage to your emperor.

Kill him.

Stop this!

What is this, Your Highness?

What brings you here, my lords?

After hearing that a Goryeo envoy had arrived,

we came to greet him.

But what is going on?

By the looks of it, he must have come to congratulate the emperor's birthday.

How can you kill a guest of the festival?

And so? Did you let him leave?

The foreign envoys became aware of the Goryeo envoy.

Kill him now,

and it will hurt Your Majesty's honor.

What is more, he is the father-in-law of the Goryeo King.

Even if we are enemies,

caution must be exercised when killing...

an imperial family member.

Then,

does that mean we can never kill that man?

Once the birthday festival is over...

and the foreign envoys leave,

kill him then.

By then, it will be clear that the Goryeo King was lying about...

paying homage to you.

Use that as the reason to kill him.

Keeping him alive right now...

is best for us, too.

Hold him hostage,

and the Goryeo King will feel the pressure.

Your Majesty. For Deputy Minister Kim to return alive,

Your Majesty must look...

as if you will truly pay homage to the Khitan emperor.

The Ministry of Rites has prepared a gift for the Khitan emperor.

And the Ministry of Defense...

is ready to escort Your Majesty to Seogyeong.

We have let the Jurchens frequenting Gaegyeong...

that Your Majesty will pay homage shortly.

This news will soon travel to the Khitan court.

Your Majesty. The people have gathered at the front of the palace.

For what reason did they do that?

It seems a rumor has circulated that Your Majesty will pay homage.

His Majesty is here.

Your Majesty.

Is it true that you are leaving for Khitan?

Where did you hear that from?

The government officials' conversation was overheard.

We clearly heard that a gift...

had to be prepared to be offered to the Khitan emperor.

Your Majesty! You must not do it.

How can the Goryeo emperor...

bow down to the feet of the Khitan emperor?

Your Majesty. My son...

He died in the last war.

If he were to hear this news,

he would lament bitter tears even in the netherworld.

If Your Majesty must go to Khitan,

step across us on your way.

Better yet,

kill us before you leave!

- Kill us! - Kill us!

Kill us first.

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

- Kill us first! - You cannot do it!

- Kill us! - Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

- Kill us first. - Do not go.

Over there! A Khitan envoy is coming!

- Kill us first. - A Khitan envoy is making his way here!

What?

- That Khitan jerk! - Where?

- Come here! - Let us kill him!

- Stop it. Stop! - Come now!

- You little... - Get down here!

Stop it!

- General Ji. - Yes, Your Majesty.

Stop them at once.

- What a lucky day. - Take this.

- Come here. - Let go of me!

Let go!

How dare you...

Enough!

Step back!

Do it now!

I must apologize.

My people were disrespectful.

Do not worry about it.

I am an envoy from the country Goryeo has fought against twice.

It is only reasonable.

I will take it as...

the Gaegyeong people were briefly overcome with fury.

Our emperor is also heartbroken that the war between Goryeo...

has not ended yet.

He is upset for failing to peacefully take care...

of the vassal state's king and people...

as the greater country's emperor.

However, as Your Highness did not proceed...

with the promised homage,

the Khitan army will once again...

advance toward Goryeo.

And we are making it clear that this war...

was due to Goryeo breaking the promise with Khitan.

We, Goryeo, did not break our promise.

It was simply that we were in an unavoidable situation.

And...

I will soon proceed with the homage.

Your Highness is too late.

The Khitan's large army...

is already advancing towards the Yalu River.

Then, return at once and tell them to stop advancing.

I will shortly leave Gaegyeong...

for Khitan.

But the Goryeo people are blocking the road.

So how will Your Highness cross the Yalu River?

As they have requested,

is Your Highness going to kill everyone on your way?

Your Highness. Even our emperor...

does not wish to fight against the vassal state so often.

However, our emperor has duties and causes...

to fulfill as the emperor of a great country.

He has no other choice.

What do you mean by that?

In other words, melt away the great Khitan's rage...

with something else...

if Your Highness is in no situation to pay homage,

"Something else?"

Give up the six districts east of the river.

(Six northernmost districts in the west of Goryeo)

What was that?

Then Your Highness will be able to prevent this war.

It is a proposal our emperor is offering for Goryeo's sake.

Obediently give up the six districts east of the river.

With that, the Khitan army will stop advancing at once...

and return home.

I shall take my leave now...

and wait for Your Highness' reply.

Your Majesty.

We can never give up our territory.

Behead the Khitan envoy this instant,

and prepare for war.

Goryeo has repelled Khitan twice.

We no longer need to fear them.

Please calm down.

Do you not know we must think objectively at a time like this?

Your Majesty. Please stay calm.

They have simply made a proposal.

Whether we accept their request or not...

is what we have to decide.